Feank ezell



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. F. EZELL. MEANS FOR SECURING DISHES TO THE TABLES 0P STEAMSHIPS. No. 407,477.

(No Modl.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- F. EZELL. MEANS FOR SECURING DISHES TO THE TABLES 0F STEAMSHIPS. No. 407,477. Patented July 23, 1889.

WITNESSES: l/VVE/VTOR I WXPVMLMM. V

NITED STAT-Es PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK EZELL, OF MARANHAM, BRAZIL.

MEANS FOR SECURING DISHES TO THE TABLES OF STEAMSHIPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,477, dated July 23, 1889.

Application filed April 13 To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK EZELL, a resident of Maranham, in the Empire of Brazil, a citizen of the United States, have invented certain newand usefulImprovements in Means for Securing Dishes to the Tables of Steamboard ship with magnetized iron or steel strips,

which are laid in flush with the top surface of the table, while the plates and dishes and other crockery are provided with suitable disks or strips of soft iron or steel, so as to be fi :mly held in position when placed in contact with the magnetized strips on the table.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan of a dining-table fora ship provided with magnetized strips according to my invention. Fig. 2-is a side elevation of the same, a portion of the center being broken out to show the eleetro-magnet for magnetizing themetallic strips. respectively a top view and side view of a plate provided with soft-iron disk at the bottom. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a vertical central section and a top view of a cup and saucer provided with soft-iron disks for adhesion to each other and to the magnetized strips of the table, and Fig. 7 is a detail vertical transverse-section of one of the magnetized strips set into the table.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A re resents a table, and BB anumber of metal s rips which are laid in recesses in the top of the table,

Figs. 3 and 4 are 1889. Serial No.307,129- (Remodel) by which the current from the generator may be controlled at will by the steward or other party presiding at the table. The connection with the battery or dynamo is interrupted when the meals are over and the magnetizing of the strips is no longer necessary.

M M are the chairs.

The platesand dishes used in connection with the tables are provided with soft-iron disks d, which are attached in any suitable manner to said plates or dishes. In Figs. 3 and 4 a plate is shown, to which the soft-metal disk is applied by arms (1', havinghookshaped ends. All the flanged dishes-such'as tumblers, wine-glasses, &c.may be provided with disks in the same manner. For cups and saucers, dishes, bowls, and'vessels of a similar nature, the soft-metal disk (1* may be applied permanently to the bottom of the same, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The table-cloth is'spread on the table and retained thereonby suitable'buttons or otherwise, the attractive force of the magnetized strips being strong enough to retain the plates and dishes wherever they are placed on the table, so as to prevent their sliding away and breaking.

By my improved arrangement of magnetized strips the plate and disk holding rings or racks which areused on the dining-tables of vessels may bedispensed with and a more eitective and satisfactory arrangement for this purpose used in place thereof. It can be applied to the tables and crockery at present in use with little change in the construction of the same.

I do not herein claim the articles of tableware provided with magnetizable metallic pieces, as they constitute the subject-matter of .an application filed by me July 10, 1889, Serial. No. 317,044.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A dining-table provided with longitudinal magnetizable metallic strips and with laterally-proj ectin g magnetizable metallic strips in connection with said longitudinal strips.

2. A dining-table provided with longitudinal magnetizable metallic strips extending through the center thereof and with laterallyprojecting magnetizable metallic strips in connection with the longitudinal strips and disposed at intervals along the table.

3. A dining-table provided with longitudinal magnetizable metallic strips and with latcrally-proj ectin g magnetizable metallic strips in connection with said longitudinal strips, in combination with an electro-magnet in connection with the system of strips.

4. A dining-table provided with longitudinal magnetizable metallic strips extending through the center thereof and with laterallyprojecting magnetizable metallic strips in connection with the longitudinal strips and dis- 1 5 my invention I have signed my name in pres- 2c ence of two subscribing witnesses.

' FRANK EZELL.

Witnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL, CARL KARP. I 

